The affect uniform has on productivity

With rules and attitudes changing all the time on how we approach the way we dress our employees, how much does is affect productivity in the workplace? Well, we’ve teamed up with uniform suppliers, Jermyn Street Design, to explore this subject.

This subject about uniform is often debated and discussed. Over time, employees of varying industries have kitted themselves out with what their employers think is both practical for more industrious-based jobs and smart in client-facing jobs.

Is a dress code necessary?

There have been studies carried out which suggest that both having a dress code and not having one has its advantages. As a generalisation, dress codes in non-industry roles are approached differently by the individual; some people like the creativity and flexibility of not having a dress code enforced at their workplace, but others like dressing up to feel as though they are in a more formal working environment.

Some of the most successful people in the world decide to dress more or less the same every day, limiting the decision-making process. Steve Jobs was known for his black turtleneck jumper, jeans and New Balance trainers, and Mark Zuckerberg for his daily grey t-shirt, with their arguments stating that it lowers their decision-making process and allows for more brainpower on their day-to-day roles.

Certainly, uniforms are more apparent in customer-service based roles, as it helps customers distinguish authority from consumer, with hotels, leisure parks and airlines being the main examples. But if smaller businesses were to adopt a ‘wear what makes you comfortable’ dress code, where health and safety isn’t concerned, this would perhaps encourage a more relaxed environment in the workplace.

Where did uniform first emerge from?

Historically, the humble work uniform started out as a badge, with each badge indicating the type of job of the wearer. Those delivering important messages or items would typically wear a badge with the emblem of the royalty which they served.

It was a way of proving the legitimacy of the workers themselves, as well as giving workers such as merchants authority, to prove that their items are of higher quality. Though this was common centuries ago, the durability of them wasn’t up to the standards that they are today, so many of them did not survive. However, these badges were the start of the uniform tradition that would go onto become mainstream. Next came liveries, which were items of clothing that were fashioned with the colours and insignia of the families or countries they were serving. Typically, this type of uniform was popular throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and many retail uniforms today still have similarities where brand logos are concerned.

Creating a positive image

Although it’s common to assume that allowing workers to wear what they want will make them work to a higher standard, providing uniforms is a great way to instil a sense of belonging. It reminds them that they’re part of a team too, proudly representing the brand. Deploying a uniform could also harness team spirit, creating unity and fostering that feeling of belonging.

There is a reason behind why many offices deploy suits as part of their work dress code. In a study by Social Psychological and Personality Science, subjects were asked to dress in either casual, everyday clothing or formal business dress, before going on to take part in cognitive tests. It was found that those in business dress showed an increase of abstract thinking when compared to those who remained casual — the findings of the experiment suggest the effects are related to feelings of power and authority, in turn granting confidence.

However, there is always the argument that some workers may not be able to afford a whole new outfit(s) for five-day working weeks, so getting provided with clothes for their respected jobs is financially positive as well as keeping them in that working mindset. Scientific research has also shown that those in formal clothes tend to perform better in situations than those in casual clothes, although this does not account for all industries. But opposing research has also found that 61% of employees are more productive at work when the dress code is relaxed.